I was rather struck, looking at the Royalist site the other day, by the number of comments (not in the actual articles so much, but in the blog-type comments underneath them) about how the Wales marriage isn't doing well and Camilla's not making a success of her new position, with all the "poor Camilla, what a shame for her" stuff, written by people who are so clearly dying for Camilla to be having these problems in real life and who would be purely delighted to find that she was thoroughly unhappy.

Hm, yes, I guess there are still a lot of people like that around. I'm still thinking about Skydragon's claim that the Royal PR-people follow forums and webpages like this and the Royalist to keep informed about what people take serious and what not when it comes to published articles (Just wanted to add that this is my interpretation of what she said :-)). I wasn't so sure it happens that way but come to think of it - it's quite a good way to get a feeling about the people's reaction to articles.

Well, be it as it is - IMHO the POW did a good PR-stunt towards people who believed in the "strife"-theory when he just called Camilla "his beloved wife" again in public. It has that "twinkle" aspect which I think is a speciality of the prince! Great move - whether he had the idea by himself or was guided by people who advised him to react in this very elegant and witty way to all the rumours about the state of the Waleses' marriage.:)

Well, when I telephoned BP for something a while back, I mentioned a website that was giving some info (it was a hospitality issue for those interested) and they said, "Oh yes, we know about that one". So I think they do have a regular check of any Royal sites that spring up.

At first I though she was about to fall and Prince Charles was holding her. He is definitely holding her though (in the 2nd pic), maybe trying to prevent a still deeper bow.

__________________Queen Elizabeth: "I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations." God, Save The Queen!

According to the Brockhampton Reference Dictionary and my husband, Schadenfreude means 'malicious glee'.

That sounds like a good translation when I look it up in the dictionaries. But isn't "glee" already a bit negative like "gloat"? I got the impression from reading english books that the word is mostly used in situations where something malicious is implied along with the jollity. Or would you use it rather neutrally on its own or even positive like mirth, gaiety, cheerfulness etc.?

This has probably been hashed over ad nauseam elsewhere, but why would one crown princess be curtseying to another? Aren't they of equal rank?

I thought it has to do with who's the hostess. Camilla was hostess to CP Mette-Marit and CP Haakon, thus the guest showed the mistress of the house her reference. Even then Mette-Marit probably could have avoided a curtsey but as Camilla is so many years her senior it still is a nice gesture, IMHO.

And we don't know what's going on behind the closed door of Clarence House - after all the Norwegian Royals are cousins of the POW from both queen Maud/king Haakon's and both queen Elizabeth/prince Philip's side. Haakon and Mette-Marit lived in London after their wedding, so I'm sure they've met Camilla before she became the wife of the POW. So it could be that it was a public showing of appreciation from CP Mette-Marit's side to the now official CP of the UK.

Another question for those who know how the British upper class tend to view things: did the divorce of Camilla Parker-Bowles change her status within the society? Was the Van Cutsem-wedding only one occasion of others, where Camilla found out that her social staus had diminished after the divorce from APB?

That sounds like a good translation when I look it up in the dictionaries. But isn't "glee" already a bit negative like "gloat"? I got the impression from reading english books that the word is mostly used in situations where something malicious is implied along with the jollity.

The latest pics of Camilla show her wearing this odd skirt that looks like it has the Prince of Wales feathers on it. I know she loves her man, but I hope I'm wrong because that would be kind of excessive...not to mention weird, freaky!

Did the divorce of Camilla Parker-Bowles change her status within the society? Was the Van Cutsem-wedding only one occasion of others, where Camilla found out that her social staus had diminished after the divorce from APB?

The divorce only altered her status within her own circle, as with any divorced couple, people take sides. Her friends knew of her relationship with Charles and rallied around when it became public and they knew the truth about the allegations made by others. So no her social status was unchanged, IMO.

She was welcome at the events she had always attended as Camilla P-B, the problem arose at the Van Cutsems, because Charles wanted her to be sat with him and they did not want to be seen officially, to condone the relationship.

Perhaps we owe them a vote of thanks, without their stupidity, IMO, the issue may not have been raised and Charles and Camilla would not now be married.

Perhaps we owe them a vote of thanks, without their stupidity, IMO, the issue may not have been raised and Charles and Camilla would not now be married.

I think Prince Charles has waited for the chance to marry Camilla for about 10 ten years already. He chose to put the feelings of Queen Mother and his sons first and Camilla accepted that. After the death of his grandmother, Charles wanted to marry Camilla but he chose to wait until Harry became of age (21 years old). However Camilla was not allowed to sit with him in such a society marriage and it was a huge embrassment or public humuliation to both of them. Under that situation, it was hard for Charles to sit with Camilla during her children's weddings and the falling of Major Shand's health, so on and so on. Any way, year 2005 was a perfect time for their marriage.

Camilla and Charles arrive for the Order of the Thistle service at St.Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland where she and her husband along with other members of the Royal family observed the nationwide two minute silence in honour of the many dead and injured from last year's London bombings. Reuters

Camilla and Charles arrive for the Order of the Thistle service at St.Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland where she and her husband along with other members of the Royal family observed the nationwide two minute silence in honour of the many dead and injured from last year's London bombings.

GOD!!! Why did her stylist take a day off???

But Iam proud of them for observing the moment of silence with every body.